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Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson

Three minutes each weekday of cool facts, weird news and awesome discoveries with Brady Carlson. Back us at http://patreon.com/bradycarlson

society & culture

All Episodes

00:03:09

The Hearing Car Is Testing Whether Self-Driving...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/10

Autonomous vehicles have high-tech systems to see “see” what’s around them on the roads. A project in Germany asks if these cars also need to be listening to what’s around them too. Plus: today in Oklahoma, it’s the Watonga Cheese & Wine Festival. “Hearing Car” Detects Sounds for Safer Driving AI and microphones are helping vehicles detect unseen hazards (IEEE Spectrum)Watonga Cheese Festival (TravelOK)If you like what you hear on our podcast, back us on Patreon

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00:03:18

A Radio Show In Tennessee Told Listeners They Had To...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/09

As a Halloween week prank in 1998, DJs in Tennessee said people had to exchange their old $20 bills for the new ones, or they would become worthless. And some people ended up rushing to the bank. Plus: starting tomorrow in Kansas, it’s the Lenexa Chili Challenge. Banks boo $20-bill radio hoax (The Tennesseean via Newspapers.com) Lenexa Chili Challenge Back us on Patreon with a few dollars a month; in exchange, you’ll get some great podcast episodes

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00:03:04

Otto The Octopus Was Really Good At Getting Into...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/08

For World Octopus Day, the story of Otto, who proved that not only is an octopus clever, it can be a little too clever. Plus: starting today in Westfield, New Jersey, it’s AddamsFest. The Story Of An Octopus Named Otto (NPR)AddamsFest If you’re a human, back our show on Patreon - if you’re an octopus, carry on doing your mischief

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00:03:12

The Soviet Union Put Out An Official Cookbook Of...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/07

It's National Cookbook Month, and sometimes a cookbook is more than a set of recipes: it’s a window into a culture. Like a cookbook the USSR published that revealed what the ruling class wanted people to think of their country, even if that wasn’t anywhere near the reality. Plus: today in 1957, a newspaper article proclaimed “it’s raining coins!” The great Stalinist bake off: Russia's kitchen bible (The Guardian)It's Raining Coins! (The Stockman's Journal via Newspapers.com) Help

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00:03:16

The Benshi Were Japan’s Silent Movie Whisperers

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/06

Today in 1927, the release of The Jazz Singer, the first "talkie," though in Japan even silent films had voices thanks to live performers known as benshi. Plus: this month at Peddlers Village in Pennsylvania, it’s Scarecrows in the Village. Think Again, Al Jolson: Japan’s Silent Movie Culture Is Still Going Strong (Peter Tasker)Scarecrows in the Village (Peddlers Village)Speak up for our podcast as a backer on Patreon

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00:03:28

Times New Roman, A 1930s Typeface, Is Still A Top...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/03

Today in 1932, the London newspaper The Times published its first edition with a brand new typeface: Times New Roman. And it's been a big deal ever since, even in the computer age. Plus: today in 2023, the end of a very long era for a book club in southern California. Where Did Times New Roman Come From? (New York Public Library)28 years ago, a book club began reading one novel. It’s finally reached the end (Orange County Register)If our show is just your type, then become a backer on Patreon

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00:03:20

The Furby Fad Of The 1990s Briefly Became A National...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/02

Today in 1998, the debut of the Furby. This 90s phenomenon became so popular that it actually raised some concerns in the national security community. Plus: if you’re into toys cars, then you may want to head to the Matchbox Road Museum in Newfield, New Jersey. How Old Is Your Furby? (Computer History Museum)New Jersey’s Matchbox Road Museum Is Die-Cast Car Heaven (The Drive)Keep the future of this show secure as a backer on Patreon

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00:03:03

Smith Island Cake Is Maryland’s Official State Dessert

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/10/01

Today in 2008, the state of Maryland formally recognized Smith Island Cake as its official state dessert. It’s yellow cake and chocolate frosting in layers and layers and layers. Plus: for inspiration on this National Homemade Cookies Day, you might try the cookie recipe that's inscribed on a gravestone in Brooklyn. Maryland's Smith Island Cake Has A Romantic History (Southern Living)Cemetery Recipes: Spritz Cookies (Chantal Larochelle)Backing our show on Patreon is so sweet

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00:03:15

How William Wrigley Went From Soap Guy To Baking...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/30

Today in 1861, the birthday of William Wrigley, Jr., who made a huge fortune selling a small product: chewing gum. But that wasn't originally the way he expected to make it big. Plus: a man driving home from a workout has a massive heart attack, but fortunately he crashed in front of a cardiologist's office. How Wrigley Chewed Its Way to Gum Greatness (JSTOR) Virginia man's 'miracle' survival after massive heart attack crashes car at cardiologist's doorstep (WTVR)It just

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00:03:14

Önneköp Is A Micronation In Sweden That Celebrates...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/29

Today is National Coffee Day, and there is a micronation in Sweden that has a cup of coffee on its flag, along with a cuckoo bird. Which should tell you that this is no ordinary place. Plus: a Chinese cafe chain makes a splash with a drink called Sweet Little Rain. Önneköp (Arnold’s Cannibal Museum)Republic of Önneköp (Atlas Obscura) Magical Cup of Coffee Comes with Floating Cotton Candy Cloud That “Rains” Sugar (My Modern Met)For less than the cost of a cup of coffee a month you can support our

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00:02:38

Pizza Week: The Pizza And Pipe Organ Connection

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/26

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from April 2019, a visit to Organ Piper Pizza, a restaurant just outside Milwaukee with a giant pipe organ. Plus: police in respond to reports of a man on a train, sharpening a big carving knife. Turns out it was just a professional ham cutter on his way to work. Remembering the Dining Fad of ‘Pizza and Pipes’ (CityLab)False alarm: Knife-wielding man on Metro revealed to be expert ham cutter (El Pais)

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00:02:32

Pizza Week: Math Says You Get More Pizza With A Large...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/25

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from January 2020, a bold group of pizza researchers studies how to stretch your pizza budget to get the most pizza, and found that the answer is all about the geometry of circles. Plus: the Cocoa Press is a 3D printer for chocolate, freeing this popular dessert from bar shapes and other molds. One 18″ Pizza Is More Pizza Than Two 12″ Pizzas, Math Shows Us Why – Primer Tackling the Serious Issues (Primer

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00:03:16

Pizza Week: Detroit-Style Pizza Got Its Shape From...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/24

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from February 2022, the delicious history of Detroit-style pizza, which got an assist from something else the city is known for. Plus: students in Japan build a system using lasers to scan a birthday cake and then tell the server the exact angle to use to cut slices. How Detroit’s car industry helped shape its pizzas (Phaidon)Detroit-Style Pizza Is Having a Moment. But Are Its Originators Getting Left

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00:03:36

Pizza Week: Steve Jobs, The First Person To Order A...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/23

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from February 2023, the story of the first person to order a pizza on the internet, who also happened to be a giant in the tech world. Plus: Anchorage, Alaska hosts the annual Outhouse Races. AppStorey talks with Steve Green about Steve Jobs, The Smithsonian and how a pizza with basil became the first food delivered via the web (AppStorey)On a roll: At Alaska’s annual Outhouse Races, there’s no shame in being

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00:03:12

Pizza Week: How Chuck E. Cheese Became The World’s...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/22

This week we're replaying some of our favorite pizza-themed episodes. In this episode from May 2021, the inside story of Charles Entertainment Cheese (yes, that's his real name), the only mouse anyone ever wanted to see in a pizza place. Plus: the past meets the future in 1905, when a film crew documents the funeral of the last known veteran of the War of 1812. An Oral History Of Those Creepy-Ass Chuck E. Cheese Robots (Mel Magazine)The surprising and horrifying backstory behind Charles

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00:03:01

Nadia Sparkes Started Picking Up Litter On The Way To...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/19

National Cleanup Day is tomorrow, so we'll tell you about a young person in the UK who’s made pretty much every day a cleanup day: Nadia Sparkes, who’s now known as “Trash Girl.” Plus: starting tomorrow in Rapid City, South Dakota, it’s the Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival. 'Trash Girl' Nadia Sparkes moves schools over bullying (BBC)The Great Downtown Pumpkin Festival (Visit Rapid City)Do something good for this show today as a backer on Patreon

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00:03:23

Muslims Pray Toward Mecca - Which Can Be A Challenge...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/18

There have been a number of Muslim astronauts, including one who went to the International Space Station today in 2006. Scholars and scientists have tried to figure out how to adapt religious traditions astronauts practice on Earth when they're spending time far above our home planet. Plus: today in 1981, a world record moment for the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta. Muslims in Outer Space (Harvard Divinity School)Canada mall sets parking‑lot record (History.com)Fly on over to our Patreon page to

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00:03:21

The Who’s American TV Debut Really Blew Up,...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/17

Today in 1967, The Who made their American TV debut, and it’s not an understatement to say that performance blew up. That’s just telling it like it is. Plus: New Haven, Connecticut may have held a world record-sized pizza party. The Who literally spark an explosion on national television (History.com)'New Haven ah-beetz can’t be beat!': City says it set world record for largest pizza party (FOX 61)Patreon backers, reign o’er our show

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00:03:16

Why 90s Screen Savers Were Full Of Flying Toasters...

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/16

For IT Professionals Day, the history of the screen saver, which was originally just supposed to keep monitors from getting overworked but eventually took on a whimsical style of their own. Plus: Warsaw, Poland is encouraging commuters to try something other than looking at their phones. Saving One Screen At A Time (Tedium)Warsaw opens metro station ‘express’ library to get commuters off their phones (The Guardian)Save our show as a backer on Patreon

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00:03:28

We’ll Miss Maru, The Box-Obsessed Celebrity Internet Cat

Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson ·

2025/09/15

Today we pay tribute to Maru the cat, one of web culture’s most beloved cats. YouTube cat fans and cardboard boxes will never be the same without him. Plus: today in 2015, a guy in Louisiana realizes he's in no condition to drive, so he finds a very different way home. The World Will Always Remember Maru (Neatorama)Drunk cowboy: 'Horse knows the way home' (WBRZ)Want more episodes about legendary internet cats? Back our show on Patreon today

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